Dman

Totally agree on Rucker. He didn't look all that great to me at Low A. Thought he might be a bust and now he and Severino are battling it out with 900 OPS's I still favor moving up Severino because he is a Switch hitter which is valuable and he is Rule V eligible so best to know if he is worthy of protection or not.

Helman with an amazing night. 5 for 5 is magically dialed in. His bat slumped in July but it looks like he wants to make up for it in August. Helman is interesting as he appears to be pretty close to a Spencer Steer clone only 2 years older. They both started at AA with Steer outperforming him there but in AAA their numbers are very, very close. At 26 he is probably not really considered a prospect anymore but he has a pretty balanced approach decent power and solid defense IIRC. Losing Steer hurt but Helman could probably fill that role equally well if given the chance.

Yeah they could bump Severino up to AA and then move Jullien to AAA. Maybe they could start Lee at High A? Or they could move Mikey Perez from Low A to high A as well. technically they have enough infielders at high A as it is with Javier, Rucker and Holland who also plays centerfield so they would be fine even if Severino moved up. Probably would balance the system more moving those two players.

For the Twins to have any chance down the stretch this was pretty much an absolute need. Steer was slightly blocked and CES has not shown much on defensive side of the ball. Hajjar has one elite pitch and the rest is to be determined.so really hard to say what was given up there just yet. All three prospects have really good potential to be good to very good MLB players. I am a prospect lover and hate losing them but giving up on the division in a year where the Twins have positioned themselves into 1st place doesn't make sense either. They needed to do something and Mahle was in the top tier of pitchers to get at the deadline and at least we didn't have to pay the price Seattle did. I followed Steer as he moved up each level and his balanced approach at the plate along with his power and good defense will be missed. I think he will be a very solid MLB player. With Polanco, Arraez, Gordon, and Miranda already in the way and with Jullien, Severino and his likely replacement the newly drafted Lee behind him, it was OK to let him go for something we needed. I hated the CES pick in the draft and thought it was a mistake pick. After watching him, I have absolutely loved what this guy brings to the plate. Yes he still needs some work on the K rate but he barrels a lot of balls and has never had an OPS lower than 900 in the system. He moved up two levels this year and technically could be moved up a third as he has had no trouble adjusting to AA. I think he is a star in the making at DH or 1st base. A Nelson Cruz type bat that will be good for a long time. I think it is tough to lose a bat like that for a year and a half of Mahle but the Twins needed to do something and credit the Reds for finding a top 100 bat before the pundits see it. In the end I think the Twins will regret losing him but for the right here, right now to get what they needed it had to be done. Hajjar hasn't pitched much this year and has been injured twice already. That change is elite and if he can stay healthy I believe he is a starter but with arm troubles this early in there seems like a fair bit a of reliever risk although with that change he could be an elite lefty reliever. I always hate losing prospects but there are others who can cover for losing some of the picks. We needed another starter for this year and next year. Let's hope a pitching pipeline develops in our lifetime and we don't have to make trades like this.

This is what you get forced to do when you don't make getting higher octane arms a priority and just role with what you have in the offseason. I hate losing Povich who had a decent chance to be a good lefty starter and most certainly a solid bullpen arm. Cano while not perfect could end being a very productive reliever for the O's and if they can make Cano work he could be a good get in and of himself. If not then they still have Povich. The last time a team dipped into our FSL pool I believe the Yankee's managed to get Luis Gil a hard throwing youngster with upside so those lottery tickets could turn into something as well. You just never know. That being said Cano wasn't going to help the Twins in the right here, right now and in the end might have been lost for nothing. So if he was something that moved the needle on this trade then at least that is something. The two lottery tickets are a looong ways a way and the odds they make it slim. If that is what it took then you just do it. It hurts to lose Povich but this team absolutely, positively needed some help on the back end and this guy looks like a good bet to help put the Twins over the hump right now. Ultimately I like this trade for the Twins. They get an asset they desperately need for this season and the next two. He is a hard thrower to compliment Duran and if Alcala ever returns then the Twins have three hard throwers to put out there a long with Jax and maybe Canterino next year as well. This is a solid move to help the pen long term and also give this team a chance at the division this year. Baring injury I am certain the O's will win this trade long term but when you make trades for the present you lose the future that is just the way this works. Kind of nice to be on this end of it for a change though.

This addition should help as he keeps the ball in yard. Not a great K rate but not bad either. Fullmer should be someone who is dependable as a rental to help shore up the pen. I have been a big Sawyer Gipson-Long backer and he has slowly moved up levels but given he was going to be Rule V eligible and not likely added to the 40 man with a decent chance to get picked this is a good way to use an asset. Twins must be banking on rebounds from SWR, Balazovich, Henriquez, Enlow and Canterino for next year as thing are thinned out for impact pitching with Petty, Hajjar and Povich being traded this year. I guess they are banking on Prielipp moving fast and replacing one of the two lefties lost and let's hope they found diamonds in the rough down the line to fill the gaps at various levels from the 2022 draft. Given all the controllable starters they have for next year in Gray, Maeda, Ryan and Mahle with Paddack back later in the year they should be in a good place for starting pitching for at least one more year. Let's hope that pipeline starts pumping out young arms sooner rather later.

Like all trades it is a bittersweet result. I was fine giving up Steer he was going to need to be added to the 40 man and there wasn't a ton of room to play him and there are guys coming up behind him. Hajjar is a nice arm but a ways a way and I think there is reliever risk there. Always hate losing good lefties of which the Twins now have virtually none left. The gut punch though is Strand. He doesn't need to be added for a while and he has those Miranda bat to ball skills that likely will make him an elite hitter. He could be the Reds next Joey Votto IMO. I really think he might be that good. If they hadn't included him I would right as rain with this trade but IMO they got hijacked on this one. I sure hope Mahle is as good as advertised because Cinci got a haul there. Can't say the Twins are not in it to win it with two very good pitchers added to the roster. I sure hope these moves pay off short and longer term. Man that must have been one heck of a draft in 2021 as other teams picked 4 of the 5 players off of it already.

IMO this is a really good deal for the O's. Povich is a hard throwing lefty who has been healthy all year. Nice K numbers a projectible arm and did I mention he is a lefty. He might be ranked number 20 right now but wouldn't have been for long. Cano has some rough edges mainly issues throwing strikes when he absolutely needs to but if you can get him there he has 4 decent pitches and good numbers at AAA. He could be a serviceable MLB reliever or he could be who he is at the level which isn't very good. I don't know anything about the lottery tickets but I know the O's play the Twins a fair bit in the FSL so they must have identified those two players as likely up and comers. I think it is the K\9 that has them interested in both arms. Even if they just become good relievers down the road then that would be a win for the O's but odds are long so that is why they are lottery tickets. I think Given that Lopez was a waiver claim you came out really well just getting Povich. The rest is gravy if it works out.

They still have to find a way to sign Soto as well or they only get him for 2.5 years? And they have Machado and Tatis huge Salaries and not much of a farm left after this deal. He better hope the pitching holds up but the lineup could be amazing with that trio of players then some.

2.5 years. If you can count what is left of the season .5 years.

Baltimore must see Povich as an elite starter to make this move. Tough to lose a good lefty but getting an All Star closer is something this Twins team desperately needs and is a brilliant move. Would never have guessed the Twins would get this level of quality reliever. This is a really good win now move. If he can manage a sub 2 ERA in the East He should be a big step up from most of the guys we have.

I guess I don't love the relievers being thrown in with the starters. They really are not comparable IMO. I will say for all his warts I do kind of like Bundy. What I like the most is the way he attacks hitters. He just seems to go right at guys and I like that. When he has a bad game though it generally is a really bad game. I can't say I love his stuff but he gets the job done more often than not despite a horrible ERA. I too like Cotton but until this month far too often he just can't seem to find the zone. If he can stay more consistent he could be an answer so hopefully he stays in a good groove through the end of the season.

While I would be hesitant to send Garlick down I am with you on Cave. His OBP is 100 points above his reasonable .273 BA. HIs OPS is approaching .900. These are number that seem to show he is ready for Major League Baseball again at least IMO. However at 29 he doesn't appear to be a part of the future in Twins outfield. He was a break glass in case of emergency type of player this year . Still given his production at AAA I wonder if he has some trade value? There are teams looking for outfield help and while he hasn't played at the MLB level yet this year he has three years of experience playing at that level and would be a very, very solid fourth outfielder for a club that needed a lefty bat. I thought a few years back the Marlins had some interest in Cave or Rosario and it didn't happen. With the Fish needing more offense and Cave fresh off a long hitting streak as well as hitting for power I wonder if a deal for a reliever might be made with Cave included? I know a lot of us have soured on Cave but I still think he is MLB ready.

After his rookie year when he hit so well I thought the Twins better hurry up and build a team around this guy because they won't be able to keep a super star for long. After that from injuring himself stepping on a baseball to being a K king it has been a looong way down from that rookie year. The Twins are generally a thoughtful group so hard to say what they ultimately decide on Sano for this year but there is no room for him next year so a DFA makes sense. I guess it just depends on how the Twins FO see's things.

Pretty much summed up my feelings about the deadline as well. Just too many holes to be fixed with one big acquisition. If the Twins are functioning like the Guardians and I think they are to some degree I think they want to get to place where they have depth as well as more surplus to trade from before "going all in" on some player to help put them over the top. I think Falvey has said this a few times but they believe in the guys they have and feel that they can get the job done. Might be a pie in the sky quote but I think they operate that way to a degree as they hang onto players underperforming generally longer than they should IMO. At this point given how poorly the pen has been I would be fine if they acquired a couple of relief arms they can trust down the stretch. It might make just enough difference for them to make the playoffs and they won't have to sell the farm to do it. There will come a time though when I do expect them to get that guy to put them over the hump I just don't feel like the time is quite right this year.

While some complain all the time about basically every move and some of the same things over and over I think we need to remember this is a place for Twins fans to express their feelings. People are expressing what they feel within the boundaries of the sites rules and while I get frustrated with some posters and some comments there are plenty of well thought out informative comments as well. If the board was just the Twins are great and nothing else there wouldn't really be a need for a site like this. Honestly there likely wouldn't be any sports fans then because essentially outcomes don't matter so who cares. Being a fan is about being emotional about your team. You want "your team" to win and baseball is full of ups and downs and our emotions swing with each win and lose. Each strike out or game winning HR. That is what is most often expressed here. Yes keep it clean and try to stay somewhat even keeled but emotions don't just run one way. There is going to be some negativity and diverse opinions about ones favorite team. Sure the best course of action is to stay positive but I guess I don't see a problem when posters have a different opinion or way of looking at things than I do even if it is negative. That is the way they feel I respect it and move on to the next comment.

Maybe I am just a vanilla Minnesotan at heart but I think I like Morneau the best as well. Great insight on the hitter side. Understands what the players are trying to do to win. I just like his approach the best but can understand where others might not care for him as much. Still they seem to mix it up and I like Smally and several others as well but in the end I still think I like Morneau the best.

I guess the thing I don't understand is Duffy walking the number 8 guy after having him at 2-2. The number 8 guy is the guy you challenge because you don't want to face the top of the order with hitters that do the most damage. I turned it off right after the walk I was so frustrated. I never even saw that he hit the next batter to give both the 8 and 9 hitters free passes he literally deserved to get nailed for the HR after not making the two worst batters on the team earn their way on. I mean I will give him credit as he settled down to get the next two batters but he is supposed to be a pro and has been at this level for years. For Duffy to not be ready for the 8 and 9 hole batters seems like a sign the guy just doesn't have it anymore. You're a pro you need to be ready right from the start. I am sorry but he is not a reliever I would want on my team.

If that is the cost and according to one source the Yankee's nearly matched it I think the Twins are out of the difference making starters market. We need Lewis to be our shortstop at some point next year and there is only Palacios left as an option for that spot. I just can't see emptying the farm given how many holes this team still has. I don't think Blake Snell is the answer so to me it seems like plan B is get at least two decent relief arms and go from there. Unless the prices are coming down I just don't see how this makes sense for this team at this time either

Yeah I saw the .556 BABIP as well and I know it is not sustainable but the point remains even if it drops some. He is seeing the ball well and hitting the ball well. That is one of the most valuable skills in MLB. You can't really have .400 BA and have a normalized BABIP of .300. Players with higher batting averages are naturally going to have higher BABIPs. Yet there is some skill in getting good contact and hitting it where they ain't. Not .556 worth but even if that drops a ways he would still be a .300 hitter and he has some pop as well. I get that he is apparently not a great defender but I think he could be serviceable at second and if his bat really is this good right now then DH wouldn't be a bad option for him either. Not saying he would be worth a lot in trade but I think he could add value to a package for the right team.

Every system has good to great prospects and Jullien might not be quite as shiny as some so I get what you are saying but I think if you are willing to look at MiLB stats from all leagues what CES is doing is pretty rarified air. I think he is the 2nd youngest player to have that high of an OPS in MILB ball high A and above. Most of the guys above him are older and some much older. This also is just his first full year of pro ball. When you start looking at the numbers I don't think you realize just how good he is. Wallner is older but his Numbers are elite for MiLB ball as well. Granted he is dropping like a stone at AAA right now but he was at the top with his OPS in AA. Interestingly while a smaller sample size, Chris Williams is right up there as well. Guys with .900 or above OPS's don't really grow on tree's. I think what CES is doing is fairly unprecedented for a first year pro player especially one drafted in the 4th round.

I wonder what KC didn't like? K rate is solid, ERA is excellent. The WHIP is a tad high but not terrible at 1.28. I guess they must have felt he was smoke and mirrors. Not sure how the deadline shakes out for the Twins but given what we have he looks likely to get a look at MLB level unless the Twins find something better.

I am pretty excited about this kid and am happy he signed. If he can get the hit tool to average or better he will make it. He is just too tooled up not to. Rehab on the arm has to be tough but he will get the best of care now that he is with the Twins. I guess the word is out that the Twins are near the top for developing talent and treating their players really well. While I am biased personally I think he made a good choice. The Twins really do everything they can to help players succeed but in the end the player does have to perform. I have a good feeling Omari Daniel will preform.

Generally I would agree with you but 32 isn't "that" old and IIRC the issue with Beckham was the bat so if that is fixed then he should be a good MLB player. Beckham was hurt early in the year so only 136 PA compared to needing around 300 to be a qualified hitter at AAA but for reference below is a snip of all AAA hitters and notice that Kirilloff had about the same number of at bats and we were screaming for him to be added back to the MLB club. Since posting those number Kirilloff has been doing just fine at the MLB level. I think the same is likely for Beckham as well. Granted 136 PA is still a relatively small sample size but hitting 400 for that long isn't easy either. Kirilloff couldn't do it so I think it is an accomplishment that needs to be acknowledged at this point and yes I think that means he deserves a shot at the MLB level.

Great write up today! Thanks! Beckham should not be in MiLB anymore. He has been hitting .400 for a while now and I think his OPS has been over 1.000 for a quite a while as well. If the Twins are not going to use him then they should at least do him the courtesy of trading him. He could be the perfect stash for a playoff team that might need utility help right now or down the line. He wouldn't even need to be added to a teams 40 man right away so would be flexible insurance. Palacios has been looking good with the bat the last few months. Just a tad bit more power like he showed last night and he could be a legit starting shortstop. I appreciate the OP mentioning Henriquez has been doing better lately. I have just gotten used to lot's of walks and runs given up that I just assume that is who he is now. Nice to see him give up no runs through 4 innings last night. I hope the Twins don't trade CES at the deadline. He looks like an All Star with the bat. Kind of Cruz like being able to hit balls out of the park. They were scared of him enough last night to practically intentionally walk him. He walked on 4 pitches with two men on. Other teams don't want to pitch to him in tight situations. I mentioned a while ago Severino had a good bat but needed to be better. He must read Twins Daily as the last few weeks he has really turned it up a notch. If he keeps this up he might need to be protected from Rule V. Jullian one of my favorite hitters because he has a special eye at the plate just keeps producing as well. Some really good bats going right now. Hope guys keep doing well. Should be another fun night tonight.